As Alexander recounted the story of Kaliyah and Valtira's past, Aster listened intently, his expression unreadable. Alexander's words painted a vivid picture of the twins' childhood, their bond, and their eventual drift apart.
"Now you see, Aster, Valtira and Kaliyah used to be inseparable," Alexander said with a hint of nostalgia. "They were more than just twins; they were each other's confidantes. But life had other plans, and their paths took a hard turn."
Aster's gaze never wavered, his eyes fixed on Alexander as he absorbed every detail. Alexander's expression turned somber, his voice laced with regret.
"I regret not being there for them more often. Being a busy father, I often prioritized work over family time. But seeing them now, it's clear that their relationship has been complicated."
Aster's expression remained impassive, his thoughts hidden behind a mask of calmness. "Interesting," he thought to himself. "The dynamics between family members can be... complex."
Alexander studied Aster's reaction, trying to gauge his thoughts. But Aster's face revealed nothing, leaving Alexander to wonder about his past and what had shaped him into the person he was today.
"Who knows what kind of things he had to go through to become like this?" Alexander thought, intrigued by Aster's enigmatic nature.
Aster had already picked up on Alexander's intense gaze. Yet, he remained stone-faced, his calm demeanor belling no intentions as he continued to size up the situation.
Just then, Kaliyah and Nixia emerged from downstairs, looking calm. Alexander and Aster saw them approaching, their footsteps quiet on the floor.
"Dad, I'm sure you had a long talk with Aster," Kaliyah said calmly. "Tell me what you said."
"Nothing much," Alexander replied with a smile. "Just about your relationship between you and Aster."
Kaliyah's eyes narrowed slightly. "Whether you're lying or not, I'll just leave it be."
Alexander chuckled, agreeing, "Sure. Now that we're done chatting, you can go back to the Hunter's Association. The driver will come and pick you up in a minute or two."
Just as Alexander finished speaking, a loud honk echoed from outside the gate. Alexander stood up, looking prepared. "The car is here. Let's get going, Aster."
Aster rose calmly, his movements fluid and calculated. "Time to leave," he said, his voice devoid of emotion.
As they stepped outside, the mess they had made earlier was nowhere to be seen. The three grey shadow soldiers Alexander had ordered to clean up stood at attention, the ground looking neat and refreshed as if new.
Nixia's eyes widened in appreciation. "The house is shiny new and clean as ever," she thought, impressed.
"Good job, sweetie." Nixia whispered to Alexander's ears.
Alexander smiled feeling grateful.
"I told ya I'd fix my mess." Alexander replied.
The three grey shadow soldiers stood proudly, their presence a testament to Alexander's authority and influence.
As Alexander watched Kaliyah and Aster prepare to leave, he gave a high-five to the three grey shadow soldiers standing guard. One of them stepped forward to open the gate, and the car that had brought Aster and Kaliyah earlier pulled up. The driver from before nodded at them. "Hop in."
Kaliyah and Aster walked toward the car, with Nixia and Alexander waving goodbye. "Take care, kids," Alexander called out. Nixia added, "We'll visit soon, okay?"
Aster didn't respond, his expression unreadable as he slid into the car. Kaliyah responded calmly. "Thanks, Mom. Bye, Dad."
As the car pulled away, Nixia and Alexander watched them go, their faces filled with a mix of concern and hope. The car navigated through traffic, passing by busy streets and towering buildings. After an hour and a half, they reached the Hunter's Association, the sky turning a warm orange as the sun began to set.
The Vice-Chairman and two bodyguards waited outside, their faces serious. "Welcome back," the Vice-Chairman said, his tone friendly. "How was your meeting with the Chairman?"
Aster's response was curt. "It was productive."
The Vice-Chairman smiled, unfazed. "Glad to hear that. You both must be tired. Why don't you head to the dorms and get some rest? Your friends are probably heading for their showers too."
Kaliyah nodded, untangling her hair. "I'm worn out. Need a shower."
The Vice-Chairman nodded. "Of course. You can follow the others. They'll show you the way."
"Sure," Kaliyah replied, before walking past them toward the dorms.
The Vice-Chairman watched Kaliyah walk away. "She's probably still upset with me for taking her to meet her Dad without preparing her first. But I'm sure she was happy to meet him, deep down. I hope she's holding on to that spark of determination," the Vice-Chairman thought.
"I'm sure she'll adjust soon enough," Aster said to the Vice-Chairman, reassuring him. The Vice-Chairman was taken aback by Aster's words for a moment, then regained his composure and replied, "Yeah... thanks for saying that, though."
The Vice-Chairman kindly smiled. "I'm going to take a break," Aster added calmly, his voice devoid of emotion.
The Vice-Chairman nodded, his presence commanding authority. "Very well, Aster. You can go."
Aster walked calmly, his eyes analyzing the surroundings as he went to take his break. The two bodyguards watched him in silence.
Later that evening, the stars and moon shone brightly in the night sky. The dorms were quiet, with everyone fast asleep. In room 170, Aster's dorm room, he lay on his bed, wearing a black singlet that revealed his toned physique. Aster's 10 abs were boldly shown through his singlet.
His eyes were wide open, his mind racing with thoughts.
"Things moved faster than I expected," Aster thought to himself. "I wanted a calm and peaceful life, but it seems that's not in the cards right now... Oh well, guess I'll just have to roll with it. For now, I'll keep a low profile and see how things unfold."